A Year Later: Maraba Spring

A year ago, generous donors helped build a spring protection system and sanitation platforms for families living around Maraba Spring. Because of these gifts and our monthly donors, partners are able to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one with you.

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Field Officer Amadaro walked into a transformed community on his way to visit Maraba Spring. These households relying on Maraba Spring have maintained good hygiene standards, and cases of open defecation are now rare. Households have invested in constructing new latrines and helpful tools like dish racks, clotheslines, and compost pits. Bushes have been cleared and floors are swept.

Life has become more convenient since Maraba Spring was transformed into a clean source of water. People no longer have to bend down to scoop dirty water since the pipe installed during protection has made it easy to fetch water. Now parents can easily send their children to the spring for water, too.

We met Mrs. Imbenzi fetching water at the time of our visit. "We now fetch clean water just at our doorstep," she said delightedly. She shared how before protection, the water would be contaminated with mud and by frogs living in the water. "Now we don't have these contaminants! Our water is very clean and sweet." She said cases of waterborne diseases have diminished because of this clean water and the better hygiene practices adopted by neighbors. Beaming with pride, she said "My children are now healthy and they go to school clean and happy thanks to the readily available clean water."

Sasha Imbuta told us that "having clean water close to home has made life better," and that's she's always healthy now. She also likes to go with her mother to help fetch water from the spring, since it's much easier to fill containers with the pipe.

The biggest problem facing these ladies is that the clean water flowing from Maraba Spring has attracted hundreds of people. It now serves over 80 different households, and both Mrs. Imbezi and Sasha said that we need to continue adding clean water points, especially since they live in such an urban area.

Keeping Maraba Spring flowing with clean water is a key way to support this community in all of their endeavors, and we’re excited to stay in relationship with them as they continue their journey.

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The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to four times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.